David Michael (6)

Received from author for review for free and all opinions are my own expressed through my reading of this book.

Ever heard the phrase Hell on Earth, well that is what David Michael has done and hell is a little place in Missouri. David Michael’s has created a world where the creatures of Hell have exploded upwards and are now mingling with people on Earth. This becomes a tourist hot spot with people wanting to meet the Big man himself but will they be able to make it back home?

It took me a couple of chapters to get into this book but when I did I realised that this is a great read. The book I feel fits more into the horror generation than a thriller horror that you see a lot of these days.

We start off with a key scene that set the scene for most of the novel. All the rest of chapters vary from ‘before the fire’ to ‘after the fire’ and each of the chapters has this heading at the top of the page to orientate the reader.

Throughout the book there are a couple of sentences that remain unfinished but I think this works well in this book due to the plot and characters. Overall it was a well put together novel.

This book is not for the faint hearted and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy a good horror book.

This review was first published on http://everybookhasasoul.wordpress.com… (meer)

The Girl Who Ran With Horses by David Michael is the emotional journey of Stevie Buckbee as she tries to separate herself from her past and the person she wants to be. After the sudden death of her brother, Stevie is shipped off to live with her aunt and uncle for the upcoming school year as her father tries to deal with the loss. Since Stevie’s mother had previously walked out of her life, Stevie is left feeling abandoned. But summer break has finally arrived and even though she is filled with resentment, Stevie is happy to finally be able to go home. She has looked into all of the horse racing events in the area and wants nothing more than to ride her horses again and win some races. What should be a promising summer, quickly turns Stevie’s world spinning. The Girl Who Ran With Horses is a book not only about coming to terms with normal teenage insecurities but about accepting who you are, even if that means you can talk to horses. One thing I enjoy is reading books from authors who challenge themselves by writing in different genres. I previously had the pleasure of reading The Summoning Fire, also by David Michael, which is completely opposite of The Girl Who Ran With Horses. Which is a great thing! I have nothing but respect and admiration for authors who can successfully pull off writing in not only different genres, but in genres that don’t fit together. It’s like having a hardcore horror author writing a baby’s nursery rhyme book. David Michael has earned that respect and admiration as The Girl Who Runs With Horses is a delightful young adult book and one that I will gladly allow my daughter to read. Well, after she learns to read of course :)… (meer)

Stevie Buckbee misses her family, or what's left of it. She only receives a few cards a year from her mother, who left the family a few years ago, and then with the death of her brother Edwin, her dad decided it would be best if she spent the school year in Tulsa with her aunt and uncle. Although she spent school breaks at home on the family ranch in Antlers, OK, she is anxious to return for good. When summer break arrives she is anxious to head home for good, all she ever dreams of is being home with her dad and brother Blake ,and to spend time with her beloved horses, especially Jack Rabbit a feisty horse her father purchased for her. While on spring break Jack Rabbit threw her but that doesn't diminish her plans for training and racing him over summer break. When she arrives home her dad seems distant, and her brother Blake is making plans to go away to college in the fall. The ranch looks neglected, and there are fewer horses boarding there. When she learns she has developed a special connection with the horses, being able to communicate with them thru thoughts, and sometimes feeling what they feel, she isn't sure at first its real. With everything going on at the ranch, the one thing she fears is that her dad will send her back to Tulsa in the fall. Can the family pull together, and will things ever be normal again for Stevie?

Stevie is a young girl coming of age, who has dealt with a lot of upheaval in her life. The author does a remarkable job of portraying Stevie's feelings. She seems like a young girl lost in alot of ways without alot of control over what goes on around her. While she is a bit headstrong at times, especially when it comes to listening to people who are trying to teach her how to ride her horse. She is also very practical and worries about those around her.The author tackles some very heavy subjects such as the abandonment by her mother, the death of her brother, her father's alcoholism, and her brother Blake growing into his own person, wanting to spread his wings away from the ranch. The authors writing drew me to Stevie immediately, and made it easy to connect with her. I could also see where her family was coming from, they are all suffering, and each one is handling it the best way they can. Her dad really feared abandonment as well, but the things he did often pushed the people closest to him away.

The paranormal twist the author throws in was neat, it was fun to hear the thoughts of the horses, although sometimes it wasn't what Stevie wanted to hear. It was interesting to see her learn to block some of it out.

A heartwarming story that horse lovers of all ages will enjoy reading. A story that is easy to connect with because the author deals with problems that are easy for alot of people to relate to. The characters are also down to earth and easy to connect with, making you hope that all will work out for them.… (meer)

The Girl who ran with horses is a unique concept, the main character, Stevie is able to communicate and be on a deep level with horses.
I really like books about horses, I used to ride and think they are marvelous animals.
My issues with this book are solely on me. I honestly don't think I was in the right state of mind for another issues book, and Stevie's family was a big issue. I couldn't connect with her the way I wanted to, but I don't believe that it was the writing.
The Girl who ran with Horses deals with sensitive subjects in a manner to be applauded. I also love the twist that the paranormal added in.
I would recommend to pick it up and give it a try. I know that I am going to re-read whenever I am in more of a contemp mood.… (meer)